Michael Schumacher: Lost 25% of body weight in coma

Michael and wife Corinna Schumacher.........remains in coma for 84th day.

Getty

Michael Schumacher, reputed by many to be the greatest Formula One driver ever, has lost 25 % of his body weight as he enters the 84th day of his coma, according to an article in the London Mirror, today, March 22. Schumacher now weights 120 pounds, according to the New York Daily News.

Schumacher, who was injured Dec. 29 in a skiing accident near Meribel, France, was conscious immediately after his skis struck a snow-covered rock sending him airborne for 34 feet before his helmet struck a second rock. His helmet split upon impact.

Wife Corinna, 45, remains at his bedside daily speaking to him in the hopes he will recognize her voice and emerge from the medically-induced coma. Doctors have reduced the drugs which induced the coma in the hopes he will awaken from his deep sleep. Agent Sabine Kehm has not recently updated his condition, although she last said he was in the "waking up" stage.

Daughter Gina-Marie, 17, and son Mick, 14, visit him daily and pray for his recovery along with Corinna. He was helicoptered to University Hospital in Grenoble following has injury for treatment.

Father Rolf and brother Ralf have also been frequent visitors to the bedside of Michael who won a record 91 Formula One races.

Dr. Curt Diehm of Karlsbad, Germany teaching hospital, said 20 kilos is a lot of weight to lose. However, he did say it was common for coma patients to lose weight because of inactivity.

The British newspaper the Mirror reported his weight loss at eight and a half stones.

Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport ran an article detailing the seven-time world champion's weight loss after earlier reporting he was breathing off the ventilator. Kehm denied he was off the ventilator.

German daily Bild Zeitung also did a major story regarding the German ace's weight loss.

Jean Todt, one of Michael's closest friends, continues to express optimism regarding the former Ferrari driver's recovery. Todt, who teamed at Ferrari with Michael to win five consecutive world championships from 2000-2004, is now president of FIA, Formula One's governing body.

Todt said, "I'm still expecting big things from Michael."

Ross Brawn, who teamed with Michael at Benetton to win two world championships in the 1990s before they both moved to Ferrari, also expressed his support for the stricken champion.

Michael receives muscle and joint massages daily.

Nico Rosberg, who won the Australian Grand Prix, last week, dedicated his victory in the Mercedes car to the bedridden champion. The stewards at Albert Park in Australia also flashed a video in honor of Michael on the circuit's screen prior to last week's Formula One race.

The entire world of Formula One continues to embrace Michael as the Bahrain circuit named the first corner of its track after him recently.

The next Formula One race will be in Malaysia a week from this Sunday broadcast on NBCSN in the United States.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, reigning world champion, wore the initials MS incribed on his visor at Australia. Vettel said Michael was his boyhood idol while growing up in Germany.

Brazil's Felipe Massa also had the initials for Schumacher emblazoned on his Williams helmet in Australia in honor of his close friend. Massa has visited Michael in the hospital and said he saw his lips move in response to some of his words.

The normally unsentimental, competitive world of Formula One has become unusually sympathetic toward the plight of Schumacher and his family. His millions of fans around the world are united in their hope he will emerge from his coma soon.

Steve Matchett, former Benetton mechanic, and the other commentators at the Australina Grand Prix referred to Michael's situation during the Australian race. Hopefully they will have a positive update to report from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for Michael's fans.

Anyone interested in receiving free updates of future National Places and Faces articles may click on the subscribe link adjacent to this article.

Share this article

Edward Lane graduated from Midwestern State University with a bachelor's degree in history and Baylor University School of law with a juris doctorate degree(law) before passing the Texas Bar Exam and being licensed as an attorney in Texas. A prosecutor for more than 20 years handling murder, child abuse, drug and sexual assault cases, he lost only one felony jury trial. Prior to attending law school Edward worked as a reporter for the Wichita Falls Times and Record News. Contact Edward at maxed49@aol.com.